Manchester United captain Roy Keane has admitted that he was ready to quit football after being sent off at Newcastle last September.
The confession comes from Keane's autobiography, which is being serialised in the News of the World.
Keane was sent off after throwing the ball at Alan Shearer shortly after the former England captain had scored the winner in Newcastle's 4-3 victory over United on 15 September.
And Republic of Ireland international Keane - who has yet to make peace with international boss Mick McCarthy - says that the incident played on his mind for some time.
"Some time during (that) night I decided: Give it up, Roy. You've turned 30 -- get out, get away, do something else. You've got to stop hurting yourself, hurting those you love," said Keane.
"Next morning I was waiting for the gaffer (Ferguson) at the training ground.... I told him I wanted to pack it in."
Ferguson advised him to reconsider and to play in a Champions League match three days later.
"I decided to play against Lille. Alex Ferguson had stood by me. Quitting would be a slap in the face for him, the last thing he needed when the club was struggling. I carried on for him."
The 32-year-old has since signed a new contract with United, which will probably see him finish his career at Old Trafford.
"I love playing at Old Trafford. I love the club, I was made for it. This is my destiny and when I signed my new contract, I felt honoured. And I've never had a second thought about carrying on."
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" When I look back on some of the stuff I've done, I ...cringe "
Roy Keane
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The fiery star also admitted that his temper has often gotten the better of him.
"It's a big problem I have, a major problem.
"I do try and control my temper. But when I look back on some of the stuff I've done, I ...cringe. I don't think I had a choice but to stop drinking if I wanted to carry on playing."
He denied, however, that he had spent time in the Priory clinic for treatment for a drink problem and said he would not be abstaining from alcohol altogether.
"I won't kid people by putting a halo over my head - they'd know better anyway. I am not teetotal."
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what a nice relief that he didn't quit but signed a new contract instead
<img src="graemlins/devil.gif" border="0" alt="[Devil]" />
The confession comes from Keane's autobiography, which is being serialised in the News of the World.
Keane was sent off after throwing the ball at Alan Shearer shortly after the former England captain had scored the winner in Newcastle's 4-3 victory over United on 15 September.
And Republic of Ireland international Keane - who has yet to make peace with international boss Mick McCarthy - says that the incident played on his mind for some time.
"Some time during (that) night I decided: Give it up, Roy. You've turned 30 -- get out, get away, do something else. You've got to stop hurting yourself, hurting those you love," said Keane.
"Next morning I was waiting for the gaffer (Ferguson) at the training ground.... I told him I wanted to pack it in."
Ferguson advised him to reconsider and to play in a Champions League match three days later.
"I decided to play against Lille. Alex Ferguson had stood by me. Quitting would be a slap in the face for him, the last thing he needed when the club was struggling. I carried on for him."
The 32-year-old has since signed a new contract with United, which will probably see him finish his career at Old Trafford.
"I love playing at Old Trafford. I love the club, I was made for it. This is my destiny and when I signed my new contract, I felt honoured. And I've never had a second thought about carrying on."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
" When I look back on some of the stuff I've done, I ...cringe "
Roy Keane
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The fiery star also admitted that his temper has often gotten the better of him.
"It's a big problem I have, a major problem.
"I do try and control my temper. But when I look back on some of the stuff I've done, I ...cringe. I don't think I had a choice but to stop drinking if I wanted to carry on playing."
He denied, however, that he had spent time in the Priory clinic for treatment for a drink problem and said he would not be abstaining from alcohol altogether.
"I won't kid people by putting a halo over my head - they'd know better anyway. I am not teetotal."
============================================
what a nice relief that he didn't quit but signed a new contract instead
<img src="graemlins/devil.gif" border="0" alt="[Devil]" />